Chapter 11 Just Friends 11
To be honest, Ren Yi's first reaction upon encountering Xiao Hanzhou and Bai Jinliu was to avoid them.
After all, he had completed the storyline and there were no mission requirements, so there was no need for him to bother people who were dating.
That's what he thought, but Ren Yi wasn't alone at the moment; he had a little follower beside him, Yan Er, who seemed quite interested in Xiao Hanzhou...
Ren Yi glanced at the little girl's expression and corrected his thinking; it should be "very interested".
In the brief moment of Ren Yi's hesitation, the person opposite him also noticed him. Xiao Hanzhou and Bai Jinliu both showed surprised expressions. Xiao Hanzhou subconsciously turned to the side, increasing the distance between himself and Bai Jinliu.
Bai Jinliu had no time to pay attention to such details. Although he had already learned about Ren Yi from Xiao Hanzhou, he still couldn't help but feel a jolt when they met face to face. It was already a struggle for him to keep his expression from becoming stiff, so he had no time to pay attention to anything else.
However, Ren Yi noticed Xiao Hanzhou's actions. He couldn't help but feel emotional. His years of unrequited love had finally paid off. At least Xiao Hanzhou truly considered him a "friend" and was even taking care of his feelings now.
Now that we've already seen it, it would be too much to hide now.
Ren Yi glanced at Yan Er's expression of barely suppressing excitement, then finally led the little girl forward to greet her.
However, as Ren Yi approached, Xiao Hanzhou couldn't help but frown.
During their last brief meeting, Xiao Hanzhou was overwhelmed with the emotions of a long-awaited reunion. Although he vaguely sensed something was amiss, he didn't dwell on it. But this time, the sense of unease was impossible to ignore.
Xiao Hanzhou looked up.
The young man walking towards them was dressed in a very simple off-white robe with inconspicuous embroidery patterns, only slightly darker embellishments at the lapel. This was completely different from the flamboyant red robe that Xiao Hanzhou remembered. Perhaps it was because of the overly plain color that the young man's brows revealed a fragile vulnerability, and his originally lush and almost intimidating beauty became calm.
Xiao Hanzhou had always known that A Yi was extremely handsome, and he still was, only now it seemed as if he had been refined by the world, and all his brilliance had been concealed. His facial features had not changed, but because of his overall temperament, he appeared gentle and serene.
Xiao Hanzhou was more used to and familiar with A Yi, who was dressed in a flamboyant red outfit that seemed to burn people, rather than now, where even the other party's gaze was as calm and undisturbed as water.
Xiao Hanzhou tried to convince himself that after all, the two had not seen each other for many years, and he did not know what A Yi had gone through in the years, so it was normal for him to have changed.
He suppressed the agitation in his heart and took a step forward to meet them.
But the scrutinizing gaze eventually landed on Ren Yi's waist, where a smooth, lustrous piece of spirit jade hung.
Xiao Hanzhou was taken aback again.
He remembered that the last time they met, the other person was wearing a different jade pendant—the warm jade pendant he had given him. In fact, it wasn't just the last time; ever since he gave that jade pendant to A-Yi, he had seen him carrying it with him every time they met.
The sudden change of events caused Xiao Hanzhou to feel the frustration he had just barely managed to suppress return, even more intensely.
He was about to speak, but when he caught sight of Bai Jinliu beside him, he realized that the words were on the tip of his tongue.
It wasn't because of this person, but because of the swaying tassel hanging from the hilt of the long sword Bai Jinliu carried—a red rope braided with golden threads, with a jade bead at the bottom, the small bead, no bigger than a finger joint, densely covered with scriptures.
The sword tassel was a gift from A-Yi to him, which he then gave to Jin-Liu.
He still remembered why A-Yi had given him the sword tassel.
Swords are weapons of violence, and at that time he was filled with revenge and hatred, so much so that he was about to use the weapon of violence as a weapon of cruelty. A-Yi was worried that he would go astray, so he went deep into the secret realm many times and visited the Buddhist sect several times. He wove golden silkworm silk into the red knot and personally carved the scripture word by word on the jade bead.
Xiao Hanzhou still remembers that during that time, the young man's slender, jade-like fingers were covered with all sorts of tiny wounds, and the originally translucent jade beads were soaked with blood, leaving streaks of red.
The sword tassel, which had almost exhausted A-Yi's efforts, was indeed very effective in the end. Whenever Xiao Hanzhou wanted to draw his sword, he felt his mind was much clearer.
However, Bai Jinliu was seriously injured but refused to give up cultivation. Xiao Hanzhou was worried that the evil aura on the sword would harm him, so he gave the sword tassel to Bai Jinliu. After all, by then he had already avenged his grievances and settled his mind. The sword tassel was of little use to him.
He didn't think much at the time. Back then, he was grateful for the life-saving favor he received, and even disregarding other personal matters, he felt he had to repay that favor.
Ah Yi and he had always been inseparable, and Xiao Hanzhou had never considered the possibility that the other party might be unwilling.
And indeed, as he had expected, when he asked, A-Yi readily agreed, saying casually, "What's already given away is yours. Do with it however you like."
At this moment, Xiao Hanzhou suddenly realized that "willing" was not the same as "happy". According to A Yi's usual personality, "good" is "good" and "bad" is "bad". He had never spoken in such a roundabout way before.
Ah Yi was probably sad back then, right?
Xiao Hanzhou couldn't recall the other person's expression at the time. A Yi always had a smile on his face in front of him, and the young man's gaze was always focused on him, as if seeing him was a very happy thing.
But things are different now.
Xiao Hanzhou keenly sensed that something had disappeared from the gaze the other person was giving him. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but this discovery filled him with a vague sense of unease.
Even now, face to face with him, the other person's attention is more focused on the little girl beside him.
Realizing this, Xiao Hanzhou almost instinctively took a step forward and started a conversation.
...
Being bombarded by double the beauty up close, Yan'er felt that happiness had come too suddenly, and she was in a daze.
When she finally snapped out of her dazed state, she noticed the strange atmosphere around her. The two people talking seemed to have some kind of aura that isolated them from their surroundings. Even though Brother Ren was holding her hand, Yan'er felt completely isolated.
Yan'er looked up and noticed the expression on Ren Yi's face. She couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly. She had never seen such an obvious expression of emotion on her brother Ren's face before.
Yan'er always felt that Brother Ren had a calm and composed aura that made people around him unable to suppress their restlessness.
When he was critically injured and on the verge of death, he showed no signs of despondency. Even after successfully cultivating his spiritual root, he remained undeterred by elation.
Like a gentle breeze passing through the willow branches, or a wisp of cloud on the horizon, they truly exist in this mortal world, yet they are creations of heaven and earth, ethereal things that mortals can never grasp.
But now, the drifting clouds have turned into a light rain, and the banished immortal has fallen to the mortal world.
The young man's face held a vibrant expression that Yan'er had never seen before. He stared so intently at the person in front of him that everyone who saw him was convinced that the person opposite him was extraordinary in his eyes.
Ren Dage was naturally handsome, but Yan'er was unusually unable to appreciate his good looks. The alarm bells in her mind were ringing, and she was instantly brought to her senses.
Yan'er knew that Brother Ren and the Xiao family head knew each other when they were in Dongzhou.
This was what Brother Ren told her when she asked him earlier.
There's nothing wrong with good-looking people being together.
Normally, Yan'er would be very happy to see this pleasing scene.
But things are different now!
One of them is very likely to be her future sister-in-law.
Yan'er inwardly scoffed, "Brother, are you even capable?!"
Three years have passed, and there's still absolutely no progress!
If Brother Ren is really taken to Dongzhou by Xiao Jiazhu, let alone holding hands, touching foreheads, or hugging her, she will find it difficult to even see him again!
Thinking of this, Yan'er became extremely anxious and couldn't help but tighten her grip on Ren Yi's hand.
But before Yan'er could come up with any idea, Ren Yi was pulled back to his senses by the force of his hand. Ren Yi immediately realized that there was something wrong with his behavior just now, and he unconsciously entered mission mode again.
After all these years of habit, Ren Yi was fully aware of his role as a tool, and when facing the chosen one, he unconsciously revealed his work attitude—it can only be said that "habit becomes second nature."
Reminded by this, Ren Yi finally snapped out of his daze and looked at Yan Er beside him, asking, "Are you tired?"
Yan Er paused for a moment, then nodded quickly.
The two little buns tied with ribbons on either side of her head swayed as she tapped them, and after a moment, she tilted her head back and quickly added, "I want to go back."
Ren Yi stared at those bright, piercing eyes for a long time, but he couldn't see a trace of fatigue in them, let alone the kind of fatigue that made him want to go back. But then he thought about it and guessed that the girl probably understood from his question about being tired that he "wanted to leave," and that's why she was giving him a way out.
Thinking this, Ren Yi's expression softened.
No wonder Yan Shuoyun dotes on his younger sister so much; such a girl is indeed lovable.
Following Yan Er's explanation, Ren Yi bid farewell to Xiao Bai and the other person.
Thinking of the little girl's earlier words, "I'm tired," Ren Yi decided to go all out and half-squatted down to pick Yan'er up.
Yan'er was actually well past the age of being held, but she was born with a weak constitution and was much thinner and weaker than other children her age, so it was not difficult to hold her. Besides, Ren Yi had watched this child grow up over the past three years, and he treated her like his own sister, so it was very natural for him to hold her now.
When Ren Yi stood up, he turned his head slightly and saw Xiao Hanzhou's face was solemn, as if he was trying hard to suppress his displeasure.
He thought about it and realized it made sense. Anyone would be in a bad mood if an uninvited guest suddenly appeared and started gossiping for ages while they were having a nice date with their sweetheart. It was also thanks to Xiao Yan'er's reminder that his goodwill towards Xiao Hanzhou would have dropped significantly.
Ren Yi breathed a sigh of relief and left, while Xiao Hanzhou's gaze lingered on Yan Er's face for a moment after she was picked up. He immediately recognized that the little girl was clearly related to Yan Shuoyun by blood, and his brows furrowed even more tightly.
Yan'er didn't notice that gaze. The little girl, who was once again in the arms of the beautiful woman, smelled the fragrance on her nose and felt as if she were floating on clouds.
No, this is not the time to feel dizzy!
Yan Er pinched herself, struggling to hold back her evaporated rationality and trying to get her blank mind working again.
—If we don't think of something soon, Brother Ren will be kidnapped by the people of Dongzhou!!
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